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Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Chad Rogers. 4.2 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K. Anybody know why he left the game in the fifth after only 77 pitches, working on a shutout?

Arguing with an umpire is often-times like swimming against the tide. And it seems Sharky bit off a little more than he could chew this time.

Wahoos' starter Chad Rogers received a no-decision in the contest as he was ejected with two outs in the top of the fifth arguing a call at third base. Rogers was in complete control at the time of his ejection as he had scattered six hits and struck out two.

Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Saturday, May 18: Tanner Rahier, Dayton. The 19-year-old 3B, a second-rounder in last year's draft, started late and slow this year--hence the .185 batting average--but has gradually been showing signs of handling A ball. Saturday, he played a role in both of the Dragons' doubleheader victories. In the first, he went 2-4 and scored a couple runs. In the second, with Dayton trailing 1-0 in the sixth (they play seven in doubleheaders) he delivered a 3-run blast that accounted for the final score.

Also notable . . .

Joe Terry went 4-5 for the Dragons in the first game, with 2 2B and 3 RBI.

Jesse Winker (first game) was 1-2 with 2 BB and 2 RBI.

Left-hander Wandy Peralta, who had lost the starting role he earned to open the season, stepped up in Dayton's nightcap: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. Rahier and Alejandro Chacin's first save made him a winner.

James Allen: The Bakersfield righty went 6 IP, 3 H 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K.

Greg Reynolds: The tall right-hander is establishing himself as a viable option for emergency starts with the Reds. He pushed his Louisville numbers to 4-0, 2.88, with a line of 7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K.

Henry Rodriguez: 2-5, HR.

Denis Phipps: 3-5.

Felix Perez: 3-5.

Billy Hamilton: 2-4, 2B, BB, SB, 2 R.

El'Hajj Muhammad had two saves in his first three seasons. He now has four in his last four appearances. After last night, when he pitched a perfect 11th inning with 2 Ks, the California League is batting .102 against the 21-year-old right-hander.

Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Sunday, May 19: Beau Amaral, Dayton. The outfielder son of a 10-year American Leaguer who hit 11 home runs but once stole 25 bases in a season, Amaral, a 7th-rounder last year out of UCLA, went 3-4 with a walk, SB, and two runs scored as the Dragons won their fourth in a row under the shadow of the Golden Dome.

Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Monday, May 20: Ryan Wright, Bakersfield. The University of Louisville product, not hitting up to his usual standards this year, has come alive in the last couple games. Leading off in last night's victory over High Desert, the 6-foot-1 second baseman was 3-4 with two doubles, a HR, two runs scored and three RBIs. The night before, he went 2-3 with a double.

Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Regarding Arias . . . Redsof72, if you're around, I believe I recall you saying last year that Arias was well behind the skill level of the Midwest League. Do you see a difference this year? Has the switch to the outfield helped? (And apologies if I've paraphrased you incorrectly.)

Anybody else on Arias? We know he's athletic and has a strong swing. Any other recent impressions?

Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Well, it's Ryan Wright again, with two home runs, but I can't get the actual post to post, for some reason. It might be because of the boldface function, which has been having issues. I'll keep trying.

Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Tuesday, May 21: Ryan Wright, Bakersfield. Our first back-to-back selection. And it wasn't for lack of competition. The sturdy Hoosier simply outslugged the field, socking two home runs from his leadoff slot. The second came in a 5-run seventh inning that broke a 7-7 tie and carried the Blaze to a hopping 12-10 triumph on Taco Tuesday. Wright's last three games: 7-12, 3 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI. Not to put a negative spin on it . . . but he needed that.

Also notable . . .

Mike Hessman: 3-4, 2B, HR #9.

Kyle Waldrop: 2-4, 2B, also HR #9. The two of them are tied for the organizational lead.

Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Wednesday, May 22: Jesse Winker, Dayton. There are plenty of uncertainties in the Reds' minor-league system, but none of them involves Jesse Winker's ability to hit the baseball. Since April 19, after a slow start in his first dozen games, the 19-year-old Floridian has whacked the ball at a clip of .382/.479/.667/1.146. Last night, his second hit was a two-run, eighth-inning, tie-breaking HR that carried the Dragons to a 6-4 victory over West Michigan. It was his seventh.

Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Thursday, May 23: Marquez Smith, Bakersfield. Smith, a highly productive minor-league journeyman who's probably under-slotted in High-A, keyed the Blaze's sixth straight victory by going 2-4 with a HR, 2B, 2 BB, and 2 RBI. (Although it was another nice evening for the 28-year-old third baseman, he did catch a break--two ace pitchers virtually cancelling each other out. See below.)

Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Friday, May 24: Ryan Dennick, Pensacola. The 26-year-old lefty was not dominating; but then, he seldom is. He has been consistently effective, however, to the extent of a 2.82 ERA. Last night: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. Born in the Cleveland area, Dennick was drafted by Kansas City in 2009 and pitched uninspired ball for the Royals through last year, his ERA staying in the mid-fours over the past three seasons. But over his most recent four starts, the six-footer has made good use of excellent control, walking only two in 23.1 IP and posting a 1.54 ERA.

As OGB noted in the game thread, it was otherwise a wasted night on the farms. But a few guys poked the ball a little bit . . .

Likes:

Re: Minor-League Player of the Day

Dennick also pitched very well in the Puerto Rican League this winter, perhaps he's turned a corner?

"Since I've been with the Reds in 1989, we've never had a farm system this loaded," Bowden said. "If we were the New York Yankees and had unlimited dollars, we could have traded for Colon, (Jeff) Weaver, Rolen, (Cliff) Floyd, (Kenny) Rogers and Finley and gotten them all -- and still held onto our top five prospects. That's an amazing statement."

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